The outflanking of their opponents by means of a short cut across Swiss territory must have appeared a tempting prospect to one or the other of the great military powers.<br><br>That is why the Swiss men are still under anus. On the slopes of the Jura hills, as well as in the concreted trenches facing Alsace-Lorraine and France and on the lofty passes of the Alps looking down on the Italian plains, the Swiss soldier is watching and waiting and will continue to do so until peace dawns.<br><br>General Information.<br><br>Switzerland is a Confederation of 22 Cantons (States) 69 per cent, of the inhabitants speaking German, 22 per cent, speaking French, 7^ per cent, speaking Italian and 2 per cent, speaking Rhaeto-Romanish.<br><br>The Swiss Republic is governed by a Federal Council of seven members, elected for 3 years by the Federal Assembly. They are almost always re-elected, a fact which tends to make the Swiss Government a stable and permanent one.<br><br>One of the 7 members is designated by the Federal Assembly to exercise the functions of a President of the Siviss Confederation.<br><br>The Federal Assembly consists of two houses:<br><br>(1) the National Council, (National-Rat) which is made up of one representative for every 2opoo inhabitants; and<br><br>(2) the State Council, (Stacnde-Rat), made up of two representatives for every State:<br><br>A total of about 250 representatives.<br><br>The Swiss people have the right of referendum, - any legislative act passed by the Assembly may be subjected to recall by popular vote on the demand of 30.000 citizens.